Camping & RV Parks: (Reviews
& Descriptions of Vancouver RV parks & Campsites can be found at Recreational Vehicle)
Note for the 2004 Camping season: Provincial
Campgrounds have been subject to cutbacks as of 2002, some have been
closed down. This is due to the Provincial Governments Draconian cost cutting
measures which have affected every aspect of life in this Province over the last
year. Coupled with the fact that many Canadians & Americans are planning on
staying home this season, rather than go abroad after Sept 11th, you can expect
camping spots to be tight, especially in July & August. As far as Government
campgrounds are concerned, it is advised to reserve, despite the fact it
will cost you an extra $6 a night up to a $18 maximum. Some campgrounds have a
proportion of sites set aside as first come-first serve, others are all
reservation. This is usually the case with the most popular ones like Lightning
lakes in Manning Park. Firewood is also no longer free and you can
expect to pay about an extra $6 for an evening campfire.
Vancouver is not a camper friendly city. I
still remember seeing some backpackers with a tent set up in Lynn
Canyon Park. I had to inform them that they were likely to soon
fall afoul of the ranger. They thought they were in the
wilderness, not a city park. If you are crossing from the U.S. ,
your best bet for camping in a reasonably aesthetic area, close
to easy transit access is probably in the White Rock area near
the US border. Peace Arch RV Park has RV and tent sites (604-594-7009,
toll free Reservation 1-800-411-0081, or Fax 604-597-4220).
Bayside Campground (604-531-6563) has campsites and RV spots. One
of the most convenient, is Timberland Motel & Campground,
located on the King George Highway at Highway 99. It is right on
the Express bus route to downtown. (Phone 604-531-1033).
Alternatively, take the Pacific (Truck) Border Crossing just east
of the main Douglas Crossing, proceed up 176th to Highway 1 &
head east to 232nd Street exit & then to the Ft Langley
Campground described in the next paragraph. Less aesthetic, but
closer to downtown and closer to rapid transit in North Surrey,
there is Dogwood Campground and RV Park (604-583-5585, Fax 604-583-4725)
and Fraser River RV Park (good Skytrain access) at 604-580-1167.
Even closer to the city, are Burnaby Cariboo RV Park (see link
Below) and Capilano RV Park at 295 Tomahawk in West Vancouver
near the north end of Lions Gate Bridge (604-987-4722). During
the summer it is advisable to make reservations, all these Parks
are usually full. There is also a campground in Richmond, very
close to Vancouver Airport. It is located at 6200 River Road,
south of the Airport. Phone 604-270-7878 or 1-800-755-4905. They
also have a Fax at 604-244-9713. There are other campgrounds in
Langley, Aldergrove, Maple Ridge, Mission, Chilliwack, etc, but
you are a long way from downtown.
The best bet for outer suburban Camping is the
site at Fort Langley & the nearby Derby Reach campground (see Recreational Vehicle section for details). This is located at the outermost point of
the Vancouver Transit System. It is a pleasant wooded campground
with individual spots for about $18 to $22 depending on hook-ups. It has a store
& a swimming pool.
To get there, take the 232 St exit off Highway 1 (Trans Canada
Freeway) & follow the signs for downtown Ft. Langley. Proceed
through the town & cross the bridge at the north end, the
Campground is on your left. On the other side of the 232 St. exit
is also the Tynehead Park Campground which is considerably more
sterile. There is a sign for both campgrounds on the Freeway. Ft.
Langley is also described in detail in my Interesting
Areas section. The same road that the
Ft. Langley Campground is located on, is also the terminus for the
Free Ferry over to Maple Ridge. If you take this Ferry over to
the other side, turn right & proceed up 232nd Street to
Dewdney trunk Road, turn right & follow the signs for Golden
Ears Park, you will end up at Golden Ears Provincial Park &
Campground. Don't expect to get a spot in this one on a summer
weekend unless you have pre-reserved. There is no transit access
into downtown unless you drive into the nearby town of Haney
& catch the Commuter train. Another popular Provincial Park
is located at Cultus lake near Chilliwack. There are 4 campgrounds here (Delta
Grove is probably the best of the four). It's south of Highway 1
and you need to follow the signs. Its well marked as you travel
west from Chilliwack or east from Abbotsford, but is a good 2 hour drive (in non-rush
hour) into Vancouver.
Camping in the rest of the Province is a
popular activity in the summer months, especially July and August
when the schools are out. Some Provincial campsites have a
reservation system (see BC Parks and Discover Camping links below).
There are also several campsites run by the Forestry Department
which are much more basic and usually off the beaten track. They
used to be free, but they now charge, although because they tend
to be more remote, chances are you may not have to pay. As far
as I know, there is only one guide (Vancouver Island) to these on
the net so far. I have provided the link below. You can probably
get a complete guide at a government tourist office. Recent cut backs by the
Provincial Government has led to many of these closing down in 2002. You can
probably still camp at them, but an RV with bathroom facilities would be best ,
since there will probably be no washroom facilities. Finally,
there are many private campgrounds. You can get a book from any
tourist office with a list of these.
Bush camping is still possible in BC, although
it is not strictly legal. If you do it, make sure you are out of
sight of the main highway (including your vehicle) and not on
someone's private property. Its quite easy to do, if you are
willing to hike off the beaten track. You can also try driving up
one of the hundreds of forestry access roads. (Don't do it
without a map, or you may get lost) In many areas you will find
de facto campsites that others have created. It is advisable to
have at least a pickup truck if you are planning to do this and
be especially careful of logging trucks which may be using these
roads. Some roads require a 4WD vehicle. It is also a good idea
to let someone know where you have gone. If you get stuck with a
broken down or stuck vehicle, you may be in big trouble unless
someone knows where to look for you if you don't return. It
is especially necessary to read the Camping precautions section
in the table below, if you plan to do this. I have given
some info on precautions and risks with regard to animals, fires,
etc. If you wish to do bush camping, you can purchase map books in any bookstore
showing routes into the back country. Unfortunately these
days, you may find your peace shattered by the sounds of dirt
bikes and ATV's (all terrain vehicles) as these people are also
looking for the more remote areas. Chances are, though, in mid
week, you can find yourself a piece of peaceful Canadian
wilderness with only a lake and the call of the Loon, to keep you
company. Please pack out or burn your garbage and bury human
waste. It is also good to keep in mind that some areas may be at
high altitude and temperatures can drop quite low at night even
in the summer.
If you wish to rent an RV (Recreational Vehicle),
there is a section of links in my Recreational Vehicle section.
If you are thinking of a camping trip around BC, I have a suggested route at Drive BC.
Campground Links/ On-Line
Reservations: See also my Recreational Vehicle Section.
Forest Fires &
Bush Camping:
The BC government is extremely
paranoid about the possibility of campers starting Forest Fires.
The majority of Forest Fires are started by lightning, but they
go to great lengths to blame them on campers. The forests of BC
have been burning for centuries and this is a natural process,
necessary for the general health of the forest as a whole. It
gets rid of choking undergrowth and is actually necessary for the
reproduction of certain species. Having said that, you should
still be careful not to start a forest fire yourself, as the
Forest Service tends to take a dim view of it. I'm sure that most
tourists, do not want to go home with the knowledge that they are
responsible for the destruction of several thousand hectares of
Canadian Wilderness. If the idea excites you, you need therapy.
Campfire bans are common,
especially in July and August. During the long hot summer of 1998,
when it only rained about 3 days from June to September, a total
ban was in effect all summer long, and huge forest fires raged
throughout the province causing billions of dollars in property
damage to the forests and affected communities. You would not
believe how easy it is to start a forest fire and how fast it
burns, once started. I used to fight forest fires in my younger
days, and its scary how fast they can move. Most Provincial
Campsites provide wood and fire pits. If the fire danger is high
or extreme (Its posted on Highways), avoid lighting a fire at all.
If you start a forest fire, good luck, your chances of outrunning
it may be slim, and you will be in big trouble with the law,
especially if there is a campfire ban. Try to give up smoking for
the time you are in the woods. More fires are caused by careless
discarding of cigarette butts, than out of control Campfires. Just use common sense, make sure your campfire is in an
open area, away from overhanging branches or dry grassland, and
build a pit and/or a circle of rocks to help contain it. Never
leave a burning campfire unattended and try to have a pail of
water nearby, just in case. Ensure the fire is completely doused
and is not smouldering before leaving the area.
If you plan on bush camping in remote areas, by
venturing up forestry or logging roads, make sure you let someone
know where you are planning to go, and make sure you have an
off-road map book, and a vehicle in good working order and plenty
of fuel. You don't want to be stuck with a broken down or stuck
vehicle and have no one know where to look for you. I would
advise against venturing up back roads in an ordinary car, a
pickup truck, utility vehicle or 4WD are advisable unless you
stick to well graded roads. Travelling with friends in two
vehicles is always preferable, if possible. Cellular phones will
not work in many areas, so don't just rely on one of those. If
you have no one to tell where you are planning to go, register at
the RCMP in a nearby town, let them know where and how long you
are going to be in the bush, and make sure you check in with them
on your way out.
Here is the Link to the BC
Forest Service Web site: MOF
Documents by Subject.
Forest Service Sites:
There are about 1200 Forest Service
campgrounds in BC. These vary in size & services. Not all have bathroom
facilities & those that do usually consist only of pit toilets. You may be
charged a fee of $10 a night or you may not be charged at all. Click here for maps & listings, but to find most sites you
need to buy copies of the "Backroads
of BC" series. Access to many sites are over rough roads, some of which are
only 4 wheel drive accessible. Most roads are passable if you have a truck &
camper.
Etiquette:
Please pack out all your
garbage (you cannot burn) from the woods while camping. There is
nothing more irritating than hiking through the wilderness and
finding broken beer bottles, empty cans, etc. on the side of the
trail. Most hikers also do not appreciate graffiti on boulders.
Try not to trample or pick wildflowers. Some of them are
extremely rare.
Dangerous Wildlife
to watch out for while Hiking or Camping:
Go to my Wildlife Section for extensive information on this subject.
